GREENLAND

GREENLAND Trump has been talking about Greenland for years, and most people thought he was crazy. It makes a lot more sense once you understand what Greenland actually is. Greenland is the largest island in the world that isn’t a continent. It’s enormous, mostly covered in ice, and only has about 57,000 people. It’s also sitting in one of the most strategically important places on Earth. Look at Greenland on a globe instead of a flat map. It sits between North America and Europe, directly in the Arctic theater with Russia on the other side. Missiles, submarines, satellites, shipping routes, and Arctic military operations make that giant frozen island incredibly valuable. America already has a military presence there. Pituffik Space Base, formerly Thule Air Base, is used for missile warning, missile defense support, and space surveillance. Trump didn’t just suddenly discover Greenland either. America has wanted it before. The United States discussed acquiring Greenland in the 1800s. After World War II, President Harry Truman's administration offered Denmark $100 million in gold for it. Denmark said no. Greenland has been tied to Denmark for centuries. It was formally a Danish colony, became part of the Kingdom of Denmark in 1953, received home rule in 1979, and expanded self-government in 2009. Today Greenland governs most of its own domestic affairs while Denmark remains responsible for areas including defense and foreign policy. Greenlanders also have the legal right to pursue independence. Now Trump has pushed the issue farther than any modern American president. The United States, Denmark, and Greenland have reached an agreement that would give America permanent security access and the ability to expand its military presence while keeping adversaries from establishing military bases or certain sensitive investments there. That is NOT the same thing as America owning Greenland. Greenland remains within the Kingdom of Denmark. What America is getting is something strategically enormous. Permanent security access to one of the most important pieces of land in the Arctic. Russia understands why Greenland matters. China understands why Greenland matters. The United States certainly understands it. Pull up a globe and look at where Greenland sits. Suddenly Trump talking about Greenland for years doesn’t sound nearly as strange. #MoreJoyMinistries